STOCKTON, Calif. - Saint Joseph's sophomore midfielder Emily Gingrich scored a hat trick and junior forward Olivia McEachern added a goal and an assist as the Hawks' women's soccer team opened its season with a 4-1 victory at Pacific on Friday evening.

The host Tigers (0-1) scored the game's first goal at 11:48 as Alex Hussar connected from the left side of the box off a crossing pass from teammate Taylor Ayers.

It would be all SJU from there though.

The Hawks (1-0) answered back shortly after with a goal by McEachern at 23:21. Off a pass into the box from sophomore forward Shannon Mulvey, McEachern headed the ball into the open net to tie the match at 1-1.

The teams would remain tied going into the second half, but Gingrich and Saint Joseph's struck quickly to take its first lead of the game. Off a corner kick by McEachern, Gingrich headed home the ball from nine yards out to put the Hawks ahead 2-1 at 49:57.

Gingrich would tally her second goal just over 10 minutes later to put SJU up 3-1 in the 61st minute. Off a free kick by Mulvey from the left side, Gingrich tracked the ball off a bounce and drilled a shot to the right post that found the back of the net at 60:16.

Saint Joseph's would push its lead to three goals in the 68th minute off a strong attack by junior forward Shannon Westhead. With the ball on Pacific's side of midfield, Westhead stole the ball from her opponent and slid a pass down the middle to a charging Gingrich. Taking the ball in stride, Gingrich slid a shot to the bottom right corner and past Pacific's charging goalkeeper to make it 4-1 at 67:02.

The Hawks' defense would hold Pacific at a distance from there, allowing just two shots from that point.

In goal, junior Allison Ebling made four saves for SJU in earning her first career victory.

Saint Joseph's caps its West Coast road swing Sunday at Saint Mary's. Game time is set for 4 p.m. Eastern.